Senators News

OTTAWA - Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire Centre, announced today that for the 10th consecutive season since taking ownership of the club, the Senators will honour the men, women and families of the Canadian Armed Forces on Sunday, Nov. 3, when the Dallas Stars visit Ottawa at 1 p.m.

More than 3,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force and their families will attend this year’s event on behalf of corporate supporters, season-seat owners, Eugene Melnyk and the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club.

“Since hosting the first Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Day ten seasons ago, we’ve had the honour of hosting more than 20,000 Canadian troops and members of military families,” said Eugene Melnyk. “Each day the men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces courageously serve our country. This annual tribute to our brave soldiers and their families is an opportunity for us to express our collective gratitude for all they do in making Canada a proud and peaceful nation.”

“The support that Eugene Melnyk, the Ottawa Senators and their fans have shown for their Canadian Armed Forces has been simply outstanding,” said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff. “It is tremendous to note that their great tradition of honouring our members is now in its tenth year. On behalf of our sailors, soldiers, airmen and women who are serving across Canada and around the world, thank you for your heartfelt support.”

In January 2008, the Ottawa Senators Foundation, in partnership with Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Day corporate supporters and the Military Families Fund, established an endowment fund that enables Canadian Armed Forces members and members of their family to attend one of the three Algonquin College campuses in Ontario. To date, $702,056 has been raised for the Ottawa Senators Foundation/Military Families Fund Endowment. This fund has awarded 124 bursaries to deserving students who want to further their educational pursuits.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Danielle Robinson, president of the Ottawa Senators Foundation, will present Kent MacDonald, president of Algonquin College, a cheque for $702,056 for the Military Families Fund (Ottawa Senators Foundation Endowment) on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. in Club Red (located on the main level at Dodge Gate inside Canadian Tire Centre). Remarks are scheduled to begin at 11:55 a.m.

PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES: Senators players will be wearing special camouflage jerseys during warm-up that will be signed and auctioned off during the game. The auction will take place at the Gate 1 entrance. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Military Families Fund.

As part of the pre-game ceremony honouring our troops, 11 members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be honored in a special tribute to those who have been deployed over the past 10 seasons the Senators have hosted the event. There will be a ceremonial faceoff with His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Senators president Cyril Leeder and two deserving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Canadian and American national anthems will be performed by the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces.

IN-GAME ACTIVITIES: The Support Our Troops program will operate a kiosk on the arena’s 200-level, selling Support Our Troops merchandise.

During the first intermission, members of the Greater Petawawa Minor Hockey Association will participate in a relay race.

POST-GAME: A photo will be taken at centre ice following the game, which will include Senators players, coaches, hockey operations staff and all uniformed members of the Canadian Armed Forces who took in the game.

RED GEAR, RIBBONS AND T-SHIRTS: Fans attending Sunday’s game are being encouraged to wear red in support of the troops, while Senators players will be sporting Support Our Troops stickers on their helmets. The Sens Store at Canadian Tire Centre will be selling camouflage T-shirts for $34.99, camouflage hats for $27.99, Senators Military Challenge Coins for $9.99, a special edition Spartacat doll dressed in camo for $24.99, camo mini sticks for $14.99 and pucks for $5.99. New this year, replica adult camouflage jerseys will be on sale for $114.99. A portion of the proceeds from all merchandise sold will be donated to the Military Families Fund.

CANADIAN ARMED FORCES: The Tickets for Troops program honours Canadian Armed Forces members for their dedication to our country. More than 1,300 Canadian soldiers, sailors and air force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, approximately 2,000 Canadian Armed Forces members – one third of its deployable force – are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.